Gabriel Batistuta celebrates his 56th birthday at present. ‘Batigol’ scored 56 targets for Argentina in 78 video games and performed in three World Cups for his nation (1994, 1998 and 2002).The Argentine striker began his profession at Newell’s Previous Boys earlier than shifting to River Plate in 1989. A yr later, Batistuta joined bitter rivals Boca Junior however was shortly on his option to Italy to signal for Fiorentina.He spent 9 years in Florence, the place he scored 204 targets in 331 video games after which moved to Roma in 2000, the place he gained the Serie A championship in his first season.After an unsuccessful spell at Inter Milan in 2003, Batistuta moved to Al-Arabi earlier than hanging up his boots in 2004.
Sir Stanley Matthews was born on at the present time in 1915. One of many all-time greats, Matthews performed till he was 50 years outdated, retiring in 1965 after enjoying his first recreation again in 1932!Matthews was nicknamed ‘The Wizard of the Dribble’ and gained the inaugural Ballon D’or in 1956. NHe began his profession with Stoke Metropolis, making his debut in 1932 earlier than shifting to Blackpool in 1947.He stayed at Bloomfield Highway till 1965, and it was there that Matthews lastly gained his first FA Cup in 1953. The Closing was known as ‘The Matthews Closing’ because it was the primary time he gained the Cup, however his team-mate Stan Mortenson fired in a hat-trick that afternoon.Matthews performed on the 1950 and 1954 World Cup for England and gained a complete of 54 caps, scoring 11 occasions.
All-time report goalscorer for the Slovenian nationwide staff Zlatko Zahovic is 54 at present. Zahovic scored 35 targets in 80 video games for Slovenia.He began his membership profession in Serbia at Partizan Belgrade earlier than shifting to Portugal, Greece and Spain earlier than returning to Portugal in 2001 to signal for Benfica.Zahovic lastly returned to his dwelling nation in 2008 to play for his remaining membership Limbus-Pekre and retired a yr later.
Former Manchester United, West Bromwich Albion and Stoke Metropolis midfielder Darren Fletcher is 41 at present.Fletcher gained the Champions League in 2008 with Manchester United and the Premier League 5 occasions. He additionally gained the FA Cup in 2004 4 Neighborhood Shields and the Membership World Cup.Between 2003 and 2017, Fletcher gained 80 caps for Scotland, scoring 5 targets.
Former Charlton Athletic and Newcastle United favorite Rob Lee celebrates his 59th birthday at present. The midfielder later performed for Derby County, West Ham United and Oldham Athletic earlier than ending his profession at Wycombe Wanderers.Lee performed 21 occasions for England, scoring twice. Each of his worldwide targets got here in a pleasant towards Romania in 1994.
Former Ipswich City midfielder Martijn Reuser is 50 at present. Reuser joined the Tractor Boys from Ajax on mortgage in 2000, scoring within the Play-Off Closing victory towards Barnsley at Wembley.He earlier than made the transfer everlasting in the summertime of 2000 and stayed at Portman Highway for an additional 4 years, earlier than shifting again to his homeland of the Netherlands.
Christian Ziege is 53 at present. The German gained 72 caps between 1993 and 2004, successful Euro 96 and showing on the 1998 and 2002 World Cups.Ziege began his profession at Bayern Munich earlier than signing for AC Milan in 1997. He then signed for Middlesbrough in 1999, the place he spent a yr earlier than Liverpool purchased him for £5.5 million.In his solely season at Anfield, Liverpool gained the League Cup, FA Cup and UEFA Cup and he joined Tottenham Hotspur introduced Ziege all the way down to London within the 2001/02 season and so they reached the League Cup Closing in his first season and Ziege scored within the recreation however Blackburn beat the North Londoners.He left White Hart Lane to affix Borussia Monchengladbach for a season earlier than retiring in 2005.
Kevin Kilbane is 47 at present. He performed for 9 totally different golf equipment throughout his profession and spent 9 seasons within the Premier League for Sunderland, Everton and Wigan Athletic.Kilbane gained 110 caps for the Republic of Eire, scoring eight targets and performed within the 2002 World Cup.
Former Romanian goalkeeper Costel Pantilimon spent eighteen years in skilled soccer. He performed in England for Manchester Metropolis, Sunderland, Watford and Nottingham Forest.Pantilimon gained 27 caps for Romania between 2088 and 2019.
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